FIU is the top university in the world. With that said, it pains me to see that the Student Government Association has fallen into such a sad state of affairs when it comes to transparency, in other words, blatant disregard for Florida Sunshine Laws.
The SGC-BBC’s disregard for Sunshine Law in recent weeks is my first area of concern. As reported in The Beacon, the topic of SGC-BBC President Denise Halpin’s impeachment has been an embarrassment. There have been closed door meetings and many abstention votes in the Senate. Pursuant to Sunshine Law Section 286.012, F.S., abstention votes are expressly prohibited.
There are few circumstances in which they are allowed, primarily conflicts of interest. However those abstaining must state why on record. I’ve yet to see any documentation on why the SGC-BBC senators were abstaining.
A key aspect of Sunshine is the requirement that all meetings be open to the public and publicized. One could describe SGA’s methods in advertising their meetings inconsistent at best. While BBC utilizes a calendar feature, MMC does not.
Both councils in SGA have statutes regarding Sunshine, (both also in severe incompliance) and the SGC-MMC has a specific statute for transparency in addition to its Sunshine ones. (Section 2.05 Transparency and Accountability).
While the statute has been in effect since last year, it has only started to be partially followed. A very important part of the statute states that all SGC-MMC meetings be recorded and posted online. At the time this letter was written, only one video has been posted.
In a recent Judiciary hearing, SGC-MMC President Patrick O’Keefe stated that he did not know whose responsibility it was to record and upload videos. It is concerning that the SGC-MMC President did not account for this when creating his cabinet and assigning job responsibilities. This was either due to an oversight, or simple ignorance of the SGC-MMC statutes.
Technology Coordinator Sergio Pantoja produced and uploaded the mentioned video. However, the timing of this also coincides with a Judicial hearing against Pantoja on a grievance filed by myself on grounds of misfeasance and malfeasance.
I am highly critical of SGA because I care about the organization. The problems it’s facing with transparency (a platform on which more than 95% of all SGA elected officials ran on last spring) are easily corrected. However, those in charge have to stop making excuses. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. Campus Life being slow is not an excuse. I don’t know who should be doing it is not an excuse.
SGA is a vital part of FIU. Those in SGA have a responsibility to meet the standards of excellence set forth to them. I know that they can do it.
I implore the members of SGA, please, live up to your responsibilities to the student body. With a small amount of real effort, you can succeed. You not only owe it to the student body, but to yourselves.
-Ben F. Badger Jr.
Non-Degree Seeking Student
About Post Author
